Measuring Success

There is mounting global evidence about interventions that improve maternal health, but one important gap that has yet to be filled is a deeper understanding of “implementation research,” with specific consideration of how to deliver these interventions quickly, affordably, and in a way that makes women more likely to seek skilled care.

Jacaranda’s commitment to continuous improvement equips us well for implementation research, and we are partnering with top academic institutions such as the Harvard School of Public Health and University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill to measure our impact in a scientifically rigorous way.

We think that impact begins with knowing our clients. With this in mind, we use outreach strategies in low-income communities across Nairobi to learn about the health-seeking behavior of our clients. Interviews, focus groups, and follow-up surveys tell us which services clients value, how much they’re willing to pay, and how long they’re willing to travel. With this information, we can cater the care we provide to meet their needs.

We believe that our greatest opportunity for social change comes from ruthlessly measuring our outcomes and operations, documenting how we reached them, and disseminating findings so that private and public providers can replicate what we learn. Collecting clinical metrics such as health outcomes, utilization, and cost of care not only help us improve, but also allow us to share best practices with the broader maternal health community. Tracking our experimentation with new technology such as mobile phones and an online client database improves our ability to collect client information, document patient care and outcomes, and get real-time feedback on our services.

Jacaranda Health aims to make pregnancy and childbirth safer for women and newborns by transforming maternity care in East Africa. We build private maternity clinics in peri-urban areas and are innovating to provide patient-centered care that combines quality and affordability.